Jet-lag!!!

[chunkichik]

I was just interested in different people's ways of coping with or minimising Jet lag.

My first time to Florida we landed at 8am and I made the big mistake of going to bed in the afternoon!! it took me about a fortnight to really get over it. Second time, I made sure I waited until the evening to go to bed which did help a lot

Apologies if this has already been covered

Anita

[amy]

There are mant treads on this if you try the search facility at the top of the page.
Here is a link to one http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_11770.asp

[jolliffee]

I used to travel to NYC on a regular basis (once or twice every two weeks for 3 years) + European travel inbetween. On the flight over; stay away from booze and any drink thats fizzy. Force yourself to fit into the new time zone (don't go to bed for a nap on the first day). Have some tea when you get there and on the way over. Move your time zone when you get onto the plane and, Never Never think the time back home because you will mentaly move to that time zone. Ok it's what I found works but most of it came from books n stuff.[msnwink]

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by jolliffee
I used to travel to NYC on a regular basis (once or twice every two weeks for 3 years) + European travel inbetween. On the flight over; stay away from booze and any drink thats fizzy. Force yourself to fit into the new time zone (don't go to bed for a nap on the first day). Have some tea when you get there and on the way over. Move your time zone when you get onto the plane and, Never Never think the time back home because you will mentaly move to that time zone. Ok it's what I found works but most of it came from books n stuff.[msnwink]
[/quote]

I agree with all of the above, but especially the bit about 'psyching' oneself into the new time zone. I travel to America a lot and firmly believe that this works very well to overcome jet lag. Like Jolliffee, I change to the destination time as soon as I get on the plane and 'think' in relation to that time.

[Ruth]

I find if I can sleep on the plane on the way home I am not too bad. If I don't sleep then it is a nightmare and I am jet lagged for ages[msnsad]

[Snapper]

A tip for making sure you can sleep on the plane when flying overnight is to eat dinner as close to the flight boarding time as possible and then not bother with the meal on the plane. You digestive system then uses up tons of energy and makes you feel sleepy.

[chunkichik]

thanks for the replies guys!!! I never have a problem when I'm out there, it's just when I get home and I can never sleep on a plane, unlike the rest of my family [msnsad]

[bmitch]

Get yourself some Melatonin at Walmart. Used to take me about 7 days to recover form jet lag but now its only about 2 after taken Melatonin.
Brian

[josephinekelly]

I was hit by jetlag on my second visit and it ruined my holiday. I just couldn't sleep at nights at all, although could fall asleep just about anywhere but in bed. I remember reading the whole of Bridget Jones Diary in one night! It is very hard to do a theme park on no sleep at all and by about 4 pm could go no further.

So this time, I requested sleeping pills from my doctor before I went - just a fortnight's supply and took one each night on holiday- slept like a baby throughout. On returning home I had the same non sleep process for about 3-4 weeks before I was back to normal, but at least it wasn't spoiling a holiday, so didn't matter as much.

I was interested to read about Melatonin and will certainly purchase some for when I return to UK, although I shall go the sleeping pill route for holidays from now on.

[blott]

You shouldn't suffer from jetlag going to the USA as it's usually coming home that gives you jetlag as it's the west to east direction that causes more problems.

I wouldn't recommend Melatonin and sleeping pills at the same time! [:O] I suffer badly from jetlag every time I return home but one Melatonin sends me to sleep for the whole night and, if they work like that for you, taking both will be unncessary.

You'll also find it's much easier to return to your normal sleeping patterns with Melatonin and probably only need them for about 2 - 5 days on your return home and they are not narcotics. Remember that if you take sleeping pills, you should declare them at US Customs.